Addison Trail names January recipient of 88’s Best recognition

Pictured is Addison Trail senior Stephanie Avila, who has been named as Addison Trail’s January recipient of 88’s Best recognition. She's pictured with Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden.

Stephanie Avila has been named as Addison Trail’s January recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her stellar involvement in extracurricular activities. Avila, a senior, was recognized during the Jan. 27 District 88 Board of Education meeting. To watch Avila’s 88’s Best presentation, click the video above.

Avila began participating from the start of her freshman year. While many students wait to see what others might do, Avila jumped right in and made choices to be active in her high school – not only for herself, but for others as well. She is a four-year varsity athlete on the Girls Tennis Team and the Girls Track and Field Team, where she served as Co-Captain and Captain this year, respectively. She also is a member of the National Honor Society and is active in the music program, where she plays trumpet in the Jazz Band and Concert Band and is a Board Member on the Tri-M (Modern Music Masters) Honor Society.

“I helped coach Avila in tennis over the past four years, and she is a very hard worker,” said Chris Grice, Addison Trail Girls Tennis Team Coach. “She is always giving 100 percent and trying to get better. She was a great leader on our team and will be missed.”

Not only is Avila an excellent athlete and teammate, but she also is an excellent student. Avila is at the top of her class and has taken 11 Honors courses and 10 Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses throughout her high school career, earning top grades in all of them. She is an Illinois State Scholar, a four-year member of the Honor Roll, and she was nominated by the Addison Trail Athletic Department for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) All-Academic State Team, which will be announced in March.

Avila credits her parents for motivating her – she knows they want more for her than they had, and she uses this as the drive to keep reaching for the goals she sets for herself. She also said teachers Mark Corey, Carolyn Erwin and Jim Perusich have had a positive impact on her life, and she thanks them for being sources of strength, for always pushing her to be confident and to set high standards and for helping her process her thoughts and opinions.

“Avila is the ideal example of the scholar-athlete – she is a consummate time manager, who always puts forth her best academic effort in AP Biology,” said Carolyn Erwin, Addison Trail science teacher. “Her work ethic, positive attitude and fierce intellect make her a force to be reckoned with for sure, and I know she will succeed in any endeavor she pursues.”

Addison Trail Guidance Counselor Dana Marine agreed.

“I am not quite sure how Avila has the time to balance academics, activities and family, but she does it all, and she does it very well with a smile on her face,” Marine said. “Avila is so involved – not because it looks good for college, but because she genuinely has diverse interests and talents. Most important, she is a great person with a big heart and a positive personality. Avila will be a first-generation college student, and I know she will impact her college community the same way she has impacted Addison Trail. I am very proud of Avila and can’t wait to hear about all of her future accomplishments.”

Addison Trail Music Department Head and Band Director Mark Corey said Avila’s attentive nature and desire to succeed are what make her stand out.

“Avila is the epitome of balance,” Corey said. “She manages to excel in academics, while being a leader in athletics and music. This is because Avila is very thoughtful and organized. She manages her time very well and is always looking ahead so that she can plan. She is never flustered by challenges and always does her best, no matter how difficult the situation might seem. Avila is a fine example of a student who will try a skill or technique over and over until she has mastered it. She is the kind of student who only needs to be shown something once, and then let her do the work to develop mastery. She sets a great example, leads by that example and does so with poise and grace.”

Avila has applied to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, University of South Carolina and Colorado State University. She plans to major in exercise science, with a goal to become a sports nutritionist or a sports dietician. While Avila doesn’t want to compete athletically at the collegiate level, she does plan to be involved in intramural sports and community service wherever she decides to go.

• District 88 values the hard work and achievements of students and wants to make sure students are honored and recognized for their accomplishments. The District 88 Board of Education and administration created the 88’s Best award to highlight students’ success. That award recognizes nine Addison Trail and nine Willowbrook seniors each school year for reaching their personal best in various areas. Recipients are honored during a District 88 Board of Education meeting in one of the following areas: academics, highly improved performance, extracurricular activities, service work or performing arts/electives. They receive an 88’s Best glass sculpture and a certificate to a local restaurant.